Self-Awakening
Self-awakening is perhaps the ultimate human experience. And many individuals, from various different intellectual disciplines, have tried to define it. Freud, Jung, and other classical psychological theorists talked of the unconscious becoming conscious. Twelve Step group adherents reference a “spiritual awakening.” But whatever you call it, waking up to a greater reality is a momentous event. (See also: Waking Up to Our Bigger Selves.) It’s how we discover our truer, bigger selves. And in the process, we also experience the sublime awe of connection to the source.
I’ve met too many folks who let the world and its ways and temptations define them. And often, the also let the world and its toxicities get to them. They honored their perceived duties alright. They did what was expected. And they did the best they could to love, even in the face of misunderstanding, disregard, and mistreatment. Out of necessity, their hearts became hardened in the process. And this ultimately cost them a loss of self – their authentic, beautiful, powerful, luminous self.
How it Happens
Self-awakening generally happens in one of two ways. The first way is much less common. It occurs when a person is so totally swept away by great love and joy that they lose all sense of their smaller, wounded, guarded, well-defended, “false” self. Inhibitions melt away. And they experience sublime ecstacy. But more commonly, it happens when circumtances deal such a fatal blow that all one’s learned ways of coping fail. This is an extraordinarily painful process. And some don’t survive it. But those that do – even in the midst of their pain – find the light within. And that’s when real living truly begins for them. (See also: Spiritual Awakening and Character Growth.)
A Personal Wish
My wish for all the readers is not merely for empowerment and healing. True, those things are important. And they inspired my work and books in the first place. But my bigger wish is for much, much more. I fervently hope that everyone finds the light within, embraces it, and allows it to illuminate the world. We direly need this, for character dysfunction has sadly darkened many lives. (Reference: Character Disturbance.)
I’m aware that my recent posts have been of a very different character. But this is both intentional on my part and born of deep conviction. Things won’t improve merely by aggreieved parties recognizing and distancing themselves from toxic relationship partners. That’s why I’ve spent so much time on what will likely be my last book. We all need to be part of creating a new environment that magnifies rather than blocks the light. And, of course, that endeavor has to start with each of us individually. For the ultimate tragedy of our times is that decent, naturally luminous people get snatched from the light within them by disturbed characters and have a hard time finding their way back. I mean to help change that.
A Happy Announcement
I’m pleased to announce that at long last, the Spanish language edition of In Sheep’s Clothing is in press at this time. It will be available through the major distributors and resellers toward the end of next month. Although there are already many foreign language editions of this book, this is the first for North American Spanish Language readers.
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